Sousou no Frieren Season 2 Ep.01 - Finally it's back! Fern is still cute!
Finally, it is back! I just watched the first episode of the newly airing Season 2 of Sousou no Frieren (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End), which I think most of us have been waiting for so long. I went and checked, and it has been roughly two years since the last season concluded with 28 episodes.
The story continues right from where we left off, with Frieren and Fern still traveling north to reach Ende. This episode worked as a sort of reintroduction, as it went through the typical banter between the three main characters, highlighting their personalities and relationships.
The focus of the episode was the group getting stuck in a cave filled with magic-canceling crystals that are completely impervious to any kind of damage. This brings Fern to a state of true fear because she has relied on magic since childhood; having it all shut down made her feel completely powerless.
Frieren, on the other hand, felt quite accustomed to the experience, to the point of falling asleep almost immediately, because of what she experienced with the Hero back in her original journey. She entrusted Stark to protect her as the vanguard of the party, and she trusts him completely.
They also showed a few flashbacks of the original Hero Party, and it is honestly always charming to see what they were up to at the time. It is narrated from Frieren's point of view, of course, and sometimes I wonder what exactly Himmel was thinking during those moments.
We also see some progress showing how Fern considers the three people she has interacted with the most during her life (Heiter, Frieren, and Stark) as "family". She cares deeply about anything related to them, as shown by the three items she always carries with her. She was extremely worried that Stark might take the offer to join the Northern Front, but well, that is not going to happen.
As it was with the first season, this new season seems to have stunning visuals, fluid animation, and a generally high level of quality all around. The opening theme "lulu." by Mrs. GREEN APPLE and the ending theme "The Story of Us" by milet are both bangers that I will probably keep listening to for years.
The next episode is titled "Hero of the South," and judging from the short preview, it seems to revolve around some demons. The whole "Hero" concept makes me wonder what it means, though. Were there multiple heroes, or is it someone who became a hero only in these last few decades after Himmel's journey was complete?
Either way, I am happy that Frieren is back, and I cannot wait to see what will happen next week.
